Image processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

A multifunction peripheral (MFP) acquires a display setting of an operation unit in the MFP, which is associated with a user at a client terminal, when accessed from the client terminal. The MFP performs control so that display of an operation screen of the MFP in the client terminal becomes display according to the acquired display setting of the operation unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a methodfor controlling the same, and a storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

A plurality of users shares and uses an image processing apparatus suchas a printer. The user sets a display format of an operation unit in theimage processing apparatus into a desired display format. If the imageprocessing apparatus is the one in which a display language is set toJapanese, for example, a user who desires to use the apparatus inEnglish requires an operation for first changing a setting of thedisplay language from Japanese to English, using a desired function, andfinally changing the setting of the display language from English toJapanese.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-243165 discusses asharing information utilization system capable of commonly using displayinformation in the same display format at a plurality of computerterminals.

When an image processing apparatus holds a display format of anoperation unit for each user and a user logs in to the image processingapparatus, the image processing apparatus can perform display dependingon the user by changing the display format of the operation unit into adisplay format associated with the user. Thus, individual display can beperformed depending on the user. For example, a display color of anoperation screen is reversed or display of the operation screen is madeenlargeable.

On the other hand, there is an image processing apparatus includingoperation means by an operation unit on the side of the apparatus (thatis a local user interface (LUI)) and operation means from a web browserin a client terminal (that is a remote user interface (RUI)) serving asan information processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus hasa function as a web server. When the web server in the image processingapparatus is accessed from the web browser in the client terminal,operation screen data for operating the image processing apparatus isreturned to the web browser. When the web browser in the client terminaldisplays an operation screen based on the operation screen data, a usercan perform input for remotely operating the image processing apparatus.Thus, device status display, job execution, and a device setting can beperformed from the client terminal in a remote location.

A setting relating to the display of the operation screen displayed bythe web browser follows a setting on the side of the web browser. If adisplay setting of the operation unit on the side of the imageprocessing apparatus has been performed, the display setting needs to beseparately performed on the side of the web browser, when the operationscreen displayed by the web browser is also desired to be displayed in asimilar display format. If a setting for reversing a display color inthe operation unit on the side of the image processing apparatus, forexample, a setting of an operating system (OS) and the web browser onthe side of the client terminal needs to be changed. Every time theoperation screen is desired to be displayed by accessing the web serverin the image processing apparatus from a web browser in a clientterminal that has not been commonly used, the user needs to perform asetting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image processingapparatus, which communicates with an information processing apparatusvia a network, includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire adisplay setting of an operation unit in the image processing apparatus,which is associated with a user of the information processing apparatus,when the image processing apparatus is accessed from the informationprocessing apparatus, and a control unit configured to perform controlso that display of an operation screen of the image processing apparatusin the information processing apparatus becomes display according to theacquired display setting of the operation unit.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configuration according to the presentexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an apparatus configuration of a multifunctionperipheral (MFP).

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a functional block diagram of a clientterminal and the MFP.

FIG. 4 illustrates a data configuration of authentication data.

FIG. 5 illustrates a data configuration of personalized data.

FIG. 6, composed of FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, is a flowchart illustratingoperation processing of the client terminal and the MFP.

FIG. 7 illustrates respective style sheets set on a response screen.

FIG. 8, composed of FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, is a flowchart illustratingoperation processing of a client terminal and an MFP.

FIG. 9, composed of FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, is a flowchart illustratingoperation processing of a client terminal and an MFP.

FIG. 10 illustrates the operation processing of the client terminal andthe MFP.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configuration according to the presentexemplary embodiment.

An information processing system illustrated in FIG. 1 includes amultifunction peripheral (MFP) 101 and a client terminal 104. The MFP101 and the client terminal 104 communicate with each other via anetwork including a local area network (LAN) 102 and the Internet 103.

The client terminal 104 is an information processing apparatus having aweb browser function capable of connecting to an external web serviceand operating a web application. The MFP 101 is an image processingapparatus having a copy function for scanning a paper medium, andforming and printing an image on paper based on data representing thescanning. The MFP 101 includes a web server unit having a web sitefunction capable of providing an application that can be accessed andoperated from the client terminal 104. When the web server unit isaccessed from a web browser in the client terminal 104, a screen(operation screen) relating to an operation of the MFP 101 can bedisplayed, and device status display, job execution, and a devicesetting can be performed.

FIG. 2 illustrates an apparatus configuration of the MFP 101.

The MFP 101 includes a controller unit 200 to which a scanner 213 and aprinter 214 are connected while an operation display unit 211, anoperation input unit 212, and the LAN 102 can be connected.

The controller unit 200 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 201 toa printer interface (I/F) 209 arranged on a system bus 210. The CPU 201controls the entire controller unit 200. More specifically, the CPU 201starts the information processing system based on a boot program storedin a read only memory (ROM) 203. The CPU 201 reads out a control programstored in a hard disk drive (HDD) 204, and performs predeterminedprocessing using a random access memory (RAM) 202 as a work area.

The HDD 204 stores various types of control programs. The HDD 204 alsostores scan data read from the scanner 213 and data acquired fromoutside the MFP 101 via a network I/F 207. An operation unit output I/F205 controls data output communication to the operation display unit211. An operation unit input I/F 206 controls data input communicationfrom the operation display unit 211.

The network I/F 207 is connected to the LAN 102 to control input/outputof information via the LAN 102. A scanner I/F 208 inputs image data fromthe scanner 213 while inputting and outputting scanner control data. Theprinter I/F 209 outputs output image data to the printer 214 whileinputting and outputting printer control data. The devices 201 to 209are arranged on a system bus 210.

The operation input unit 212 is an instruction input interface from auser, which includes an input device such as a touch panel or hardwarekeys. The operation display unit 211 is a display interface to the user,which includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD)or a light emitting diode (LED). The operation display unit 211functions as a screen of an operation unit in the MFP 101.

The scanner 213 includes an optical reading device such as a chargecoupled device (CCD), and has a function of optically operating a papermedium and reading the paper medium as electronic image data. Theprinter 214 has a function of forming the electronic image data as animage on a recording medium such as paper.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a functional block diagram of theclient terminal 104 and the MFP 101.

The client terminal 104 includes a web browser 150 and a CPU 151. Theweb browser 150 accesses the MFP 101, and is provided with a webservice. The CPU 151 controls the entire client terminal 104.

The MFP 101 includes a network I/F 207 to a language resource 327. Eachof processing units included in the MFP 101 is implemented when the CPU201 in the MFP 101 reads out and executes a control program stored inthe ROM 203 or the HDD 204. A language content file 314, authenticationdata 324, personalized data 326, and the language resource 327 arestored in a predetermined storage unit (e.g., the HDD 204) in the MFP101.

The network I/F 207 communicates with the web browser 150 in theexternal client terminal 104. The network I/F 207 transmits a requestmessage to a web server unit 301 that provides a web service. Thenetwork I/F 207 receives a response message from the web server unit 301and transmits screen data to the web browser 150, and then the webbrowser 150 displays a screen based on the screen data. In this example,the web browser 150 receives operation screen data from the web serverunit 301, and displays an operation screen for operating the MFP 101based on the operation screen data. The web browser 150 in the clientterminal 104 can receive various services in addition to being providedwith the operation screen data using the web service.

The client terminal 104 can have an individual personal settingenvironment as a personal computer. The personal setting environmentalso includes a display language, screen color reversal, etc. aboutaccessibility. The personal setting environment of the client terminal104, together with private information of the client terminal, can bestored and referred to. The web browser 150 can also have settinginformation such as display language information. The settinginformation can be transmitted to the web server unit 301 as requestinformation from the web browser 150. The request information isAcceptLanguage serving as http header information about the web browser150, for example.

A configuration of the web server unit 301 will be described. The webserver unit 301 includes a web service processing unit 310, a remoteuser interface (UI) application 311, and a remote login service 312. Theweb service processing unit 310 has a function as a HyperText TransferProtocol (HTTP) service for receiving a request message from the webbrowser 150 and determining with which web application service itcommunicates according to the request message. More specifically, theweb service processing unit 310 receives a Uniform Resource Locator(URL) and a parameter as the request message, analyzes the received URLand parameter, and specifies a request. Then, the web service processingunit 310 performs processing according to the request, and returns aresponse thereto to the web browser 150.

The web service processing unit 310 calls the remote login service 312to receive the web application service and performs login processing(authentication processing) when it receives a first request from theweb browser 150. The remote control service 312 performs theauthentication processing, and returns an authentication processingresult to the web service processing unit 310. The web serviceprocessing unit 310 performs processing for calling an applicationrequested from the web browser 150 based on the returned authenticationprocessing result.

The remote UI application 311 is called from the web service processingunit 310 to receive the request message as well as authenticationinformation from the web service processing unit 310. Then, the remoteUI application 311 performs screen generation instruction processingbased on the request message to provide a web service. Morespecifically, the remote UI application 311 analyzes a tag name andheader information in a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) as parametersof the request message requested from the web browser 150. In thisanalysis, the above described AcceptLanguage information can also bereferred to.

The remote UI application 311 calls a content of an appropriate languageset from the language content file 314, and generates an HTML screen. Ifa screen on which a display language is English is to be generated, forexample, the remote UI application 311 reads out a content (file) inEnglish from the language content file 314, and generates an HTMLscreen. The generated HTML screen is transmitted as a response screen tothe client terminal 104 via the network I/F 207. The web browser 150 inthe client terminal 104 displays the transmitted response screen. Theremote UI application 311 acquires or sets the personalized data 326associated with a user corresponding to the above describedauthentication information via a personalized data management unit 325.

The remote login service 312 performs the authentication processingrequested from the web server unit 301 based on information about theauthentication data 324. More specifically, the remote login service 312generates a screen (not illustrated) for requesting input of anidentification (ID) and a password for authentication when called fromthe web service processing unit 310. The remote login service 312transmits the generated screen to the web browser 150 in the clientterminal 104 and displays the transmitted screen.

The remote login service 312 searches the authentication data 324 forinformation regarding an ID and a password when it receives anauthentication request after an ID and a password for authentication areinput to the above described generated screen, determines whether the IDand the password searched for respectively match the ID and the passwordfor authentication, and performs authentication processing. If theauthentication has been successfully performed, the remote login service312 returns an authentication result to the web service processing unit310, as described above. The web service processing unit 310 calls anapplication requested by the web browser 150 based on the abovedescribed authentication processing result. If the authenticate has beenunsuccessfully performed, the remote login service 312 can also generatean error screen, transmit the generated error screen to the web browser150 in the client terminal 104, and display the transmitted errorscreen.

A processing unit that performs input/output control of an operationpanel of the MFP 101 will be mainly described. An input/output controlunit 320 transmits a generated operation screen to the operation panelof the MFP 101, and receives an instruction to operate the operationscreen. More specifically, the input/output control unit 320 displays ascreen to be displayed on the operation panel of the MFP 101 on theoperation display unit 211 via the operation unit output I/F 205. Theinput/output control unit 320 receives an operation instruction from theuser with the operation input unit 212 via the operation unit input I/F206.

A device control unit 321 generates a screen to be displayed on theoperation panel upon receiving a request from the input control unit320. More specifically, the device control unit 321 uses an ID and adisplay language of a requested screen to read out the screen from thelanguage resource 327, and arranges a button on the screen to generate ascreen. Thus, the language resource 327 has screen data corresponding tothe display language. The generated screen is displayed on the operationdisplay unit 211 via the input/output control unit 320. The generatedscreen also includes a screen to which information regarding an ID and apassword required in an authentication unit 323 is input.

The authentication unit 323 is called from the device control unit 321when authentication processing is required, and performs theauthentication processing. More specifically, the authentication unit323 acquires an ID and a password for authentication when called fromthe device control unit 321. The authentication unit 323 searches theauthentication data 324 for information regarding an ID and a password,determines whether the ID and the password searched for respectivelymatch the ID and the password for authentication, and performsauthentication processing. The authentication unit 323 returns anauthentication result to the device control unit 321. The device controlunit 321 performs screen control based on the returned authenticationresult.

The personalized data management unit 325 is called from the devicecontrol unit 321 or the remote UI application 311, to manage thepersonalized data 326 in the MFP 101. More specifically, thepersonalized data management unit 325 associates the personalized data326 with a user ID and stores the associated personalized data in thestorage unit in response to an instruction from the device control unit321 or the remote UI application 311. The personalized data managementunit 325 reads out and return the personalized data associated with theuser ID in response to the instruction from the device control unit 321or the remote UI application 311.

FIG. 4 illustrates a data configuration of the authentication data 324.

The authentication data 324 has, for each user, information 401 requiredin performing user authentication, such as a user ID 402, a user name403, and a password 404. The information are previously registered inthe MFP 101 by the user (mainly an administrator).

Return to description illustrated in FIG. 3. The authentication unit 323and the remote login service 312 check whether the input user name andpassword respectively match the user name and the password in theauthentication data 324. If the user names and the passwords do notrespectively match each other, the authentication unit 323 and theremote login service 312 determine that the authentication has beenunsuccessfully performed, and notify the user that the authenticationhas been unsuccessfully performed. If the user names and the passwordsrespectively match each other, the authentication unit 323 and theremote login service 312 determine that the authentication has beensuccessfully performed, and change an authentication state from anon-login state to a login state.

FIG. 5 illustrates a data configuration of the personalize data 326.

The personalized data 326 has setting information 501 for the MFP 101that can be stored for each user. The setting information 501 includesthe user ID 402, screen color reversal 502, an audio mode 503, a displaylanguage 504, a magnifier 505, and a personal address 506. The settinginformation 501 illustrated in FIG. 5 is an example. The personalizeddata 326 may include at least one of the screen color reversal 502 tothe magnifier 505, which are associated with the user.

The screen color reversal 502 is a setting as to whether a color of ascreen of the operation display unit 211 is reversed. The audio mode 503is a setting as to whether an audio key operation function and an audiogeneration operation function are validated. The audio key operationfunction is a function of notifying the user of a content required foran operation of the MFP 101 as an audio guidance. The audio generationoperation function is a function of performing user input using akeyword obtained by analyzing and recognizing audio generation by theuser. The display language 504 is a setting relating to a displaylanguage to be displayed on the operation display unit 211. Themagnifier 505 is a setting as to whether a function of enlargingcharacters to be displayed on the operation display unit 211 isvalidated. The personal address 506 is a setting of an e-mail addressfor each user.

Return to description illustrated in FIG. 3. The device control unit 321reads the setting information 501 of the personalized data 326associated with the user ID 402 representing the authenticated user bythe personalized data managing unit 325 when the authentication unit 323has successfully performed the authentication, and reflects a settingrepresented by the setting information 501 on the MFP 101.

FIG. 6, composed of FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, is a flowchart illustratingoperation processing of the client terminal 104 and the MFP 101 in afirst exemplary embodiment.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the MFP 101 switches a style sheetset on a response screen to be transmitted to the web browser 150according to a display setting for each user of the operation unit inthe MFP 101 when the MFP 101 is accessed from the web browser 150 via anetwork. The style sheet is display definition information for defininga display format when the web browser 150 displays the response screen.In this example, the MFP 101 sets the style sheet to be displayed in adisplay format according to the display setting of the operation unit inthe MFP 101, which is associated with the user who has accessed the MFP101.

Processes in steps S0630 to S0636 illustrated in FIG. 6 are executed inresponse to an instruction issued by the CPU 151 in the client terminal104. Processes in steps S0602 to S0628 are executed in response to aninstruction issued by the CPU 201 in the MFP 101. The display settingfor each user in the MFP 101 is previously performed by the user (mainlyan administrator).

In step S0630, the web browser 150 in the client terminal 104 requestsan information/operation screen (remote UI) of the MFP 101 to the webserver unit 301 in the MFP 101. The operation screen is a screen forperforming input to operate the MFP 101. In step S0602, the web serviceprocessing unit 310 then determines whether the web browser 150 in theclient terminal 104 has requested the information/operation screen(remote UI) of the MFP 101. If the web service processing unit 310determines that the remote UI has not been requested (NO in step S0602),the process in step S0602 is repeated. If the web service processingunit 310 determines that the remote UI has been requested (YES in stepS0602), the web service processing unit 310 requests an authenticationscreen to the remote login service 312. In step S0604, the web serviceprocessing unit 310 transmits the authentication screen to the clientterminal 104.

In step S0632, the web browser 150 in the client terminal 104 displaysthe authentication screen that has been transmitted from the MFP 101 instep S0604. In step S0634, the web browser 150 in the client terminal104 transmits authentication information (a user ID and a password)input by the user to the web server unit 301 in the MFP 101.

In step S0606, the web service processing unit 310 causes the remotelogin service 312 to check whether authentication has been successfullyperformed based on the user ID and the password that have beentransmitted from the web browser 150 in the client terminal 104 in stepS0634. The remote login service 312 checks whether the user ID and thepassword, which have been received from the web service processing unit310, respectively match a user name and a password in the authenticationdata 324. If the remote login service 312 determines that the user IDsand the passwords do not respectively match each other (NO in stepS0606), the web service processing unit 310 determines thatauthentication has been unsuccessfully performed. In step S0628, the webservice processing unit 310 sets an error screen as a response screen tothe client terminal 104, and the processing proceeds to step S0624. Instep S0624, the web service processing unit 310 transmits the responsescreen to the client terminal 104.

If the remote login service 312 determines that the user IDs and thepasswords respectively match each other (YES in step S0606), the webservice processing unit 310 determines that authentication has beensuccessfully performed. The web service processing unit 310 sends theuser ID and the password to the remote UI application 311.

In step S0608, the remote UI application 311 inquires of thepersonalized data management unit 325 the display setting of theoperation unit in the MFP 101, which is associated with the userrepresented by the user ID sent from the web service processing unit310, based on information about the user ID. More specifically, theremote UI application 311 inquires about the personalized data 326. Thepersonalized data management unit 325 acquires the display setting ofthe operation unit in the MFP 101 for the user from the personalizeddata 326, and returns the acquired display setting to the remote UIapplication 311.

The remote UI application 311 then executes determination processing,described below, based on the display setting returned from thepersonalized data management unit 325. In step S0610, the remote UIapplication 311 determines whether there is a screen color reversalsetting in the display setting. If the screen color reversal settingexists in the display setting (YES in step S0610), the processingproceeds to step S0614. If the screen color reversal setting does notexist in the display setting (NO in step S0610), the processing proceedsto step S0612.

In step S0614, the remote UI application 311 determines whether there isa magnifier setting in the display setting. If the magnifier settingexists in the display setting (YES in step S0614), the processingproceeds to step S0620. If the magnifier setting does not exist in thedisplay setting (NO in step S0614), the processing proceeds to stepS0622.

In step S0612, the remote UI application 311 determines whether there isa magnifier setting in the display setting. If the magnifier settingexists in the display setting (YES in step S0612), the processingproceeds to step S0618. If the magnifier setting does not exist in thedisplay setting (NO in step S0612), the processing proceeds to stepS0616.

In step S0616, the remote UI application 311 generates a response screento the client terminal 104. More specifically, the remote UI application311 calls a content corresponding to a display language included in thedisplay setting from the language content file 314, and generates aresponse screen based on the called content. Such processing is alsoexecuted in steps S0618, S0620, and 0622, described below. The remote UIapplication 311 sets a normal style sheet on the generated responsescreen.

In step S0618, the remote UI application 311 sets a style sheet forcharacter size enlargement on the response screen to the client terminal104. In step S0620, the remote UI application 311 sets a style sheet forboth screen color reversal and character size enlargement on theresponse screen to the client terminal 104. In step S0622, the remote UIapplication 311 sets a style sheet for screen color reversal on theresponse screen to the client terminal 104.

The response screen on which the style sheets are set in steps S0616,S0618, S0620, and S0622 is data representing the operation screen of theMFP 101 (operation screen data). The operation screen data is data in anHTML format.

FIG. 7 illustrates respective style sheets set on a response screen.

An HTML 701 represents response screen data. Style sheets 703, 704, and705 are Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for designating display on the HTML701.

In a description 709 in the HTML 701, <!DOCTYPE> first declares DocumentType Definition (DTD). The HTML 701 defines, for each version, names ofelements (tags) and attributes usable in the version and a manner ofarrangement of the elements and the attributes. The definition isreferred to as DTD. In the HTML, <!DOCTYPE> declares according to whichDTD description is given, and <html> declares that a document is an HTMLdocument.

Header information such as a document title is described between a<head> and </head>, and <title> gives a title to the document. Anexternal style sheet can be read, like in a description 702. Forexample, a file name representing the style sheet 703, 704, or 705 isdescribed in the description 702. When the description of the file nameis rewritten, display in the web browser 150 is switched to the display706, 707, or 708. The style sheet 703 is a normal style sheet. The stylesheet 704 is a style sheet for character size enlargement. The stylesheet 705 is a style sheet for screen color reversal.

The style sheet on the information/operation screen (remote UI) of theMFP 101 is switched to a style sheet according to the display setting ofthe MFP 101, which is associated with the user, by setting the stylesheet in steps S0616, S0618, S0620, or S0622 illustrated in FIG. 6.

In step S0624, the web service processing unit 310 transmits a responsescreen to the client terminal 104, and processing on the side of the MFP101 ends. In step S0636, the web browser 150 in the client terminal 104displays the response screen transmitted from the web service processingunit 310 in the MFP 101. The web browser 150 displays, when the stylesheet is set on the response screen, the response screen in a displayformat according to the style sheet.

Therefore, the MFP 101 switches the style sheet on the response screendisplayed by the web browser 150 based on the display setting of theoperation unit set for each user. More specifically, the remote UIapplication 311 sets the style sheet on the response screen to performcontrol so that the display on the operation screen of the MFP 101 onthe side of the client terminal 104 becomes display according to thedisplay setting of the operation unit in the MFP 101, which isassociated with a user of the client terminal. Thus, the displayaccording to the display setting of the operation unit in the MFP 101can be performed without performing a setting on the side of the clientterminal 104.

FIG. 8, composed of FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, is a flowchart illustratingoperation processing of a client terminal and an MFP in a secondexemplary embodiment.

In the second exemplary embodiment, a content edited according to adisplay setting of an operation unit in an MFP 101 is previously storedas a language content file 314. When the MFP 101 is accessed from a webbrowser 150 via a network, the MFP 101 acquires the content editedaccording to the display setting of the operation unit in the MFP 101,sets the content as a response screen, and transmits the set content tothe web browser 150.

Steps S0828 to S0834, S0802 to S0814, and S0826 are similar to stepsS0630 to S0636, S0602 to S0614, and S0628 illustrated in FIG. 6, andhence description thereof is not repeated.

In steps S0810, S0812, and S0814, a remote UI application 311 executesdetermination processing relating to the display setting of theoperation unit in the MFP 101. In steps S0816, S0818, S0820, and S0822,the remote UI application 311 acquires a content corresponding to aresult of the determination processing from the language content file314, and sets the acquired content as a response screen.

More specifically, in step S0816, the remote UI application 311 acquiresa normal content from the language content file 314, and sets theacquired content as a response screen. In step S0818, the remote UIapplication 311 acquires a content for character size enlargement fromthe language content file 314, and sets the acquired content as aresponse screen. The content for character size enlargement is a contentedited to be displayed with a character size enlarged and with extraitems reduced. Thus, a highly readable operation screen can be provided.

In step S0822, the remote UI application 311 acquires a content forscreen color reversal from the language content file 314, and sets theacquired content as a response screen. The content for screen colorreversal is a content edited to be displayed with a screen colorreversed. In step S0820, the remote UI application 311 acquires therespective contents for screen color reversal and for character sizeenlargement from the language content file 314, and sets the acquiredcontents as a response screen. The contents for character sizeenlargement and for character size enlargement are contents edited to bedisplayed with a screen color reversed, with a character size enlarged,and with extra items reduced. The remote UI application 311 may changeoperability or an operation flow in the screen depending on a content ofthe display setting.

In step S0824, a web service processing unit 310 transmits a responsescreen to a client terminal 104, and processing on the side of the MFP101 ends. In step S0834, the web browser 150 in the client terminal 104displays the response screen transmitted from the web service processingunit 310 in the MFP 101, and processing on the side of the clientterminal 104 ends.

Therefore, the MFP 101 transmits a response screen where a displaycontent and items are edited to the client terminal 104 based on thedisplay setting set for each user, to enable display according to thedisplay setting of the MFP 101 without performing a setting on the sideof the client terminal 104.

FIG. 9, composed of FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, is a flowchart illustratingoperation processing of a client terminal 104 and an MFP 101 in a thirdexemplary embodiment.

In the third exemplary embodiment, the MFP 101 inquires of the clientterminal 104 whether display according to a display setting of anoperation unit in the MFP 101 is performed.

Steps S0936 to S0940, S0902 to S0908, and S0934 are similar to stepsS0630 to S0634, S0602 to S0608, and S0628 illustrated in FIG. 6, andhence description thereof is not repeated.

In step S0910, a remote UI application 311 determines whether thedisplay setting of the operation unit in the MFP 101, which isassociated with a user in an access source, based on personalized dataacquired from a personalized data management unit 325. If it isdetermined that the display setting of the operation unit in the MFP101, which is associated with the user, has not been performed (NO instep S0910), then in step S0922, the remote UI application 311 sets anormal style sheet.

If it is determined that the display setting of the operation unit inthe MFP 101, which is associated with the user, has been performed (YESin step S0910), then in step S0912, the remote UI application 311transmits a confirmation screen 1001 for inquiring of a web browser 150whether display according to the display setting of the operation unitin the MFP 101 is performed, to be displayed. The display according tothe display setting of the operation unit in the MFP 101 is display thatmatches the display setting of the operation unit in the MFP 101.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the confirmation screen 1001.

When the user presses a button 1002, display according to the displaysetting of the operation unit in the MFP 101 is selected. When the userpresses a button 1003, non-display according to the display setting ofthe operation unit in the MFP 101 is selected.

Return to description illustrated in FIG. 9. In step S0942, the webbrowser 150 in the client terminal 104 notifies the MFP 101 of selectioninformation representing selection on the confirmation screen 1001 bythe user. In step S0914, the remote UI application 311 then determineswhether a setting according to the display setting of the operation unitin the MFP 101 is performed based on the selection information.

If the selection information indicates that display according to thedisplay setting of the operation unit in the MFP 101 is performed, theremote UI application 311 determines that the setting according to thedisplay setting of the operation unit in the MFP 101 is performed (YESin step S0914), and processing proceeds to step S0916. If the selectioninformation indicates that display according to the display setting ofthe operation unit in the MFP 101 is not performed, the remote UIapplication 311 determines that the setting according to the displaysetting of the operation unit in the MFP 101 is not performed (NO instep S0914), and processing proceeds to step S0922. Steps S0916 toS0928, S0932, and S0944 are similar to steps S0610 to S0622, S0624, andS0636 illustrated in FIG. 6, and hence description thereof is notrepeated.

According to the third exemplary embodiment, if the MFP 101 is accessedfrom the web browser 150 in the client terminal 104, the user can selectwhether a display setting of an operation screen by the web browser 150matches the display setting of the operation unit in the MFP 101.

Each of the above described exemplary embodiments do not limit theinvention as set forth in the claims, and all combinations ofcharacteristics described in the exemplary embodiments are not alwaysessential for a solution of the invention. The third exemplaryembodiment and the second exemplary embodiment may be combined with eachother. More specifically, between steps S0808 to S0810, processes insteps S0910, S0912, S0942, and S0914 illustrated in FIG. 9 may beperformed.

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus in eachof the above described exemplary embodiments, if the user of theinformation processing apparatus accesses the image processing apparatusvia the network, the operation screen of the image processing apparatuscan be displayed in a display format desired by the user in theinformation processing apparatus.

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2014-208877, filed Oct. 10, 2014, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus that communicateswith an information processing apparatus via a network, the imageprocessing apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled tothe processor, the memory having instructions that, when executed by theprocessor, perform operations comprising: acquiring a display setting ofan operation unit in the image processing apparatus having a web sitefunction to provide an application for accessing or operating from theinformation processing apparatus, which is associated with a user of theinformation processing apparatus having a web browser function connectedto an external web service for operating the application, when the imageprocessing apparatus is accessed from the information processingapparatus; and performing control so that display of an operation screenfor operating the image processing apparatus in the informationprocessing apparatus becomes display according to the acquired displaysetting of the operation unit.
 2. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the performing control sets displaydefinition information to perform display in a display format accordingto the display setting of the operation unit in operation screen data oroperating the image processing apparatus, and transmits the operationscreen data to the information processing apparatus.
 3. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the performingcontrol inquires of the information processing apparatus whether thedisplay of the operation screen of the image processing apparatus in theinformation processing apparatus is to be the display according to theacquired display setting of the operation unit, and wherein, whennotification from the information processing apparatus in response tothe inquiry indicates that the display of the operation screen is to bethe display according to the display setting of the operation unit, thecontrol unit sets the display definition information for performingdisplay in the display format according to the display setting of theoperation unit in the operation screen data, and transmits the operationscreen data to the information processing apparatus.
 4. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation screendata is data in an HTML format, and the display definition informationis a style sheet.
 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim1, wherein the performing control acquires a content edited according tothe acquired display setting of the operation unit as operation screendata, and transmits the operation screen data to the informationprocessing apparatus.
 6. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein the performing inquires of the information processingapparatus whether the display of the operation screen of the imageprocessing apparatus in the information processing apparatus is to bethe display according to the acquired display setting of the operationunit, and wherein, when notification from the information processingapparatus in response to the inquiry indicates that the display of theoperation screen is to be the display according to the display settingof the operation unit, the performing control acquires the contentedited according to the display setting of the operation unit.
 7. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displaysetting of the operation unit in the image processing apparatus, whichis associated with the user of the information processing apparatus,includes at least one of a setting relating to enlargement of charactersdisplayed on a screen of the operation unit, a setting relating to adisplay language, a setting relating to reversal of a color of thescreen, and a setting relating to a function of performing notificationor input relating to an operation by audio.
 8. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit functions as aweb server configured to control the display of the operation screen oroperating the image processing apparatus, which is performed by a webbrowser included in the information processing apparatus.
 9. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising performingauthentication processing by the user of the information processingapparatus when the image processing apparatus is accessed from theinformation processing apparatus via the network, wherein, when theacquiring has successfully authenticated the user, the acquiringacquires the display setting of the operation unit in the imageprocessing apparatus, which is associated with the user.
 10. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storingthe display setting of the operation unit in the image processingapparatus, which is associated with the user of the informationprocessing apparatus, wherein the acquiring acquires the display settingof the operation unit in the image processing apparatus, which isassociated with the user of the information processing apparatus, fromthe storing.
 11. An image processing system including an imageprocessing apparatus and an information processing apparatus thatcommunicates with the image processing apparatus via a network, whereinthe image processing apparatus comprises: a processor; and a memorycoupled with the processor, the memory having instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, perform operations comprising: acquiring adisplay setting of an operation unit in the image processing apparatushaving a web site function to provide an application for accessing oroperating from the information processing apparatus, which is associatedwith a user of the information processing apparatus having a web browserfunction connected to an external web service for operating theapplication, when the image processing apparatus is accessed from theinformation processing apparatus, and performing control so that displayof an operation screen or operating the image processing apparatus inthe information processing apparatus becomes display according to theacquired display setting of the operation unit, and wherein theinformation processing apparatus comprises: a processor, and a memorycoupled with a processor, the memory having instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, perform operations comprising: accessing theimage processing apparatus, and performing display according to thecontrol by the performing control included in the image processingapparatus.
 12. A method for controlling an image processing apparatusthat communicates with an information processing apparatus via anetwork, the control method comprising: acquiring a display setting inthe image processing apparatus having a web site function to provide anapplication for accessing or operating from the information processingapparatus, which is associated with a user of the information processingapparatus having a web browser function connected to an external webservice for operating the application, when the image processingapparatus is accessed from the information processing apparatus; andperforming control so that display of an operation screen or operatingthe image processing apparatus in the information processing apparatusbecomes display according to the acquired display setting.
 13. Themethod according to claim 12, further comprising setting displaydefinition information to perform display in a display format accordingto the display setting in operation screen data or operating the imageprocessing apparatus, and transmitting the operation screen data to theinformation processing apparatus.
 14. The method according to claim 12,further comprising acquiring a content edited according to the acquireddisplay setting as operation screen data, and transmitting the operationscreen data to the information processing apparatus.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 12, wherein the display setting in the imageprocessing apparatus, which is associated with the user of theinformation processing apparatus, includes at least one of a settingrelating to enlargement of characters displayed on a screen, a settingrelating to a display language, a setting relating to reversal of acolor of the screen, and a setting relating to a function of performingnotification or input relating to an operation by audio.
 16. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprisingperforming authentication processing by the user of the informationprocessing apparatus when the image processing apparatus is accessedfrom the information processing apparatus via the network, wherein, whenthe acquiring has successfully authenticated the user, the acquiringacquires the display setting in the image processing apparatus, which isassociated with the user.
 17. A non-transitory storage mediumcomputer-readably storing a program for executing a method forcontrolling an image processing apparatus that communicates with aninformation processing apparatus via a network, the control methodcomprising: acquiring a display setting in the image processingapparatus having a web site function to provide an application foraccessing or operating from the information processing apparatus, whichis associated with a user of the information processing apparatus havinga web browser function connected to an external web service foroperating the application, when the image processing apparatus isaccessed from the information processing apparatus; and performingcontrol so that display of an operation screen or operating the imageprocessing apparatus in the information processing apparatus becomesdisplay according to the acquired display setting.
 18. Thenon-transitory storage medium according to claim 17, further comprisingsetting display definition information to perform display in a displayformat according to the display setting in operation screen data oroperating the image processing apparatus, and transmitting the operationscreen data to the information processing apparatus.
 19. Thenon-transitory storage medium according to claim 17, further comprisingacquiring a content edited according to the acquired display setting ofas operation screen data, and transmitting the operation screen data tothe information processing apparatus.
 20. The non-transitory storagemedium according to claim 17, wherein the display setting in the imageprocessing apparatus, which is associated with the user of theinformation processing apparatus, includes at least one of a settingrelating to enlargement of characters displayed on a screen, a settingrelating to a display language, a setting relating to reversal of acolor of the screen, and a setting relating to a function of performingnotification or input relating to an operation by audio.